Us: Book Three in The Everett Gaming Series

by Drew Sera

  “Hi, Carlos. I’m glad you’re here today. This is Colin Everett and Anthony Graves. We wanted to bring some donations by. There’s some nice warm bedding in here that I knew you’d be able to use. Maybe for the few bigger beds for the people that come in with kids.”

  She held the box out towards Carlos. He had a warm smile and took the boxes and set them down behind the desk. He reached out and shook my hand and then Anthony’s.

  “Thank you! Thank you for thinking of us. Good to meet you both.”

  “Nice to meet you too, Carlos,” I said and began looking around the place.

  “Looks like you’re down a few people in the food line. Where’s Linda and Hal?” Sydney asked Carlos while looking around.

  “Their daughter had her baby, and they are in Texas visiting the new bundle. They’re due back Monday actually.”

  Sydney looked over at the few people working hard to help feed the hungry and cold bodies. She looked up at Anthony and I and then back at the food line. When her hands gravitated to one another, Anthony stepped forward and took hold of her hands.

  “Wanna help out for a bit, sunshine?”

  Anthony knew as well as I did that she wanted to help. Helping others was in her nature. Sydney nodded and smiled. Anthony and Sydney headed towards the food section, and a few women with hairnets greeted Sydney with huge smiles. Sydney showed Anthony to the sink, and they washed their hands and were quickly whisked away by an older lady to help. Sydney knew her way around the kitchen so maybe she just volunteered here. I couldn’t help but smirk and shake my head as I watched the flurry of women offering to help Anthony and show him where things were. It never fails, except now he has a woman. I stood with Carlos and we watched Sydney. I got the impression he was wary of Anthony and I.

  “So, Mr. Everett, how long have you known Sydney?”

  Ah, yes. Wary in deed.

  “Almost a year. She got a job in the same building where I work. How long have you known her?”

  I turned my attention back to Sydney. She and Anthony were walking out on the floor, passing out juice to the kids, and refilling coffee mugs and water glasses for the adults. Anthony stayed close to her. Sydney’s smile was infectious, and some people seemed to recognize her and started conversations with her. As they talked to people and walked around, a little boy started to follow along behind Anthony. The child might have been maybe three at the most. Anthony didn’t seem to know he was there, though.

  “I’ve known Sydney for a while. She was in college when she first came through these doors.” I turned my attention to Carlos. “She came in one night not dressed for the winter and looked like she hadn’t had a good meal. She was a student, living on her own, and trying to make ends meet. She waited a long time outside before she actually got in the line for something to eat. She was always alone and kept to herself. She’d come in Friday nights for a meal. It had been a few visits before my wife and I got a chance to talk to her. My wife and I operate the place and always welcome new faces.”

  I looked up to see that Sydney was talking to a teenage girl. The girl was telling her about something and seemed excited to talk with Sydney. When Carlos continued, I turned my attention back to him.

  “We told Sydney that our doors were always open and that she was always welcome. I’ll never forget her response. She said there were people in more need than she was, and she wasn’t going to put her need above theirs. Very rarely, Mr. Everett, do I hear a hungry person say that. She felt guilty taking the food. There was something special about her, and my wife insisted that we encourage Sydney to come in when she was hungry. She said she had a place but that food was scarce. We told her that if she volunteered in our food service line, that we’d feed her as well. She had a lot of pride and ended up taking us up on the offer, and my wife was happy that Sydney was getting some food and a warm place.”

  “So, she never stayed here in the shelter?” I asked.

  “There were a few nights here and there where she seemed afraid of something or someone. We were used to seeing her bubbly and smiling. But there were some days when she came in that I really worried about her. My wife and I have counseling training and knew something wasn’t right. She wouldn’t let anyone too close to her, physically or emotionally. She didn’t want to be touched. Not that anyone would try to, but she never allowed herself to be close to others. I think she viewed it as a risk.”

  It was making sense to me now why Carlos stopped when he looked like he would have hugged her earlier. He remembered her fear. I nodded. I remembered her fear of everyone in our office. Carlos smiled as he watched her.

  “She doesn’t mind that gentleman being close to her, though. She didn’t get upset when he touched her hands.”

  I nodded. I wasn’t going to complicate things.

  “How long has he known her?”

  “Anthony? He’s known her as long as I have. He and I work together.”

  Carlos was sizing Anthony up as we watched them. Sydney seemed to be having a serious conversation with an older woman who sat by herself at a long table. She listened and her face expressed sympathy. The little boy was still trotting along behind Anthony, and he kept watching Anthony and would try to emulate him. When Anthony put his hand on his hip, the little boy did the same. Or when Anthony rubbed on his chest, the little boy followed.

  “Does he care about Sydney?” Carlos asked. I turned to face him and made sure he heard me loud and clear when I told him that Anthony would give his life for her. Carlos smiled. “I’m so glad for her. She deserves happiness. My wife should be back soon and would love to see her if you wouldn’t mind staying a little bit longer.”

  I nodded to Carlos that it was fine. “So, are your doors open 24/7?”

  “Yep, just like the city. Hunger and need comes at all hours.”

  “Where does your funding come from?”

  “We rely mostly on donations and volunteers. We receive donations from many businesses as well as from individuals.”

  I looked around at the people and noticed most were women with little kids or the elderly. There were a few men in the group with a child or two, but mostly women and small kids.

  “Are most of your patrons people with kids?”

  “A large portion, yes. Many stay here with the kids until they can go home or get back on their feet. Many come here to get away from a drunken spouse or abusive partner. Some live in an apartment with others and can make ends meet rent wise, but fall short with regards to food. That’s the case with many of the single parents here.”

  It was a very sobering thing to hear. I looked around again and felt bad for the kids. They don’t know any better and it’s not their fault. That’s how this kind of cycle starts. In and out of shelters for most of their youth. I could have been any one of these kids if it weren’t for Matt’s folks.

  Carlos laughed and I drew my attention to where he was looking. He was watching the little boy near Anthony. Anthony had turned and noticed the boy. He bent down and offered the boy the last juice box on the tray he was carrying. The little boy smiled and held up his hands towards Anthony to accept it.

  “Looks like Ross found a friend.”

  “The little boy? His name is Ross?”

  “Yes, his mother is over there handing out plates.”

  “Oh, so he’s here volunteering with his mom?”

  “His mother helps out, but they live here. Ross and his mom left an abusive home. Typically, Ross doesn’t leave the side of his mother. He speaks very little. When Sydney would come in though, she’d sit and color with Ross.”

  Anthony held the juice box out to the little boy, and the boy accepted the juice box with a smile. He held the juice against his chest and tried pulling the straw off all with the same hand. He seemed to favor one arm. When Anthony saw Ross mainly used one hand, he didn’t reach towards the boy but turned his hands palm up in front of him. The boy put the juice box back in Anthony’s hand and Anthony stuck the straw in and handed it back
to him.

  “His dad crushed his hand and arm in a car door. He doesn’t have a lot of use with that arm. They waited to take him to get medical help, and by the time they came here, the boy’s broken wrist had healed wrong.” I winced. “Yes, we see a lot like that. Everyone who comes through these doors has a story. None of them are very pleasant.”

  “I’d like to help.”

  “Wonderful, Mr. Everett. Would you like to volunteer your time with our food line?”

  “I’m thinking in financial terms.”

  “Any monetary donation you’d like to provide would be greatly appreciated.”

  Carlos was thinking small. I pulled out my wallet and handed him my business card. He looked at it and then back up at me.

  “Oh, my. I had no idea you were that Everett of Everett Gaming.”

  We shared a quiet laugh. I told him that I’d contact him Monday morning and asked if he had wiring instructions that he could email to me where I could wire my donation. He was very appreciative, but it was the least I could do. He kept our fragile kitten fed.

  The little boy was sitting on the floor next to Anthony’s feet sipping his juice. Eventually he started to lean on Anthony’s legs. Anthony knew the little guy was there but he hadn’t moved. The little boy’s mother came scurrying over and picked the boy up.

  “I’m sorry, mister. He just seemed so happy to follow you and Sydney around. He usually is right by my side and isn’t so trusting. I’m sorry he bugged you.”

  “No problem. He wasn’t bugging me.”

  The lady looked at Anthony as if he weren’t serious. She began opening up a little more to Anthony about the little boy. As his mother retold his story, the little boy hid his face in his mother’s neck. I watched Anthony grow rigid, and his face got red.

  “His daddy did that to his hand?”

  “Yeah.” His mother shook her head and stroked the boy’s hair. I could tell she was beginning to struggle with the story. She put her hand up to her mouth and walked back towards the table where she had been passing out plates.

  The look on Anthony’s face was one of sympathy and sadness. Sydney laced her hand in Anthony’s and leaned on his arm. He re-grouped, wrapped an arm around her, kissed the top of her head, and then they walked over towards us. I looked at my watch and knew we needed to get going.

  “You guys ready?” I asked but looked down at Sydney.

  “Yes, thank you.”

  I loved her so much. I wanted to pick her up and kiss her. But I didn’t want to give poor Carlos a heart attack. Just then his wife walked in and spotted Sydney and came rushing over. Anthony and I backed up a little bit to let them talk. While they chatted over a cup of coffee, I quickly filled Anthony in on Sydney’s connection to the shelter.

  As I was filling Anthony in, a small orange foam ball rolled over towards us. The ball was just like the one Anthony and I throw at each other at work, only smaller and had chunks missing from it. Anthony bent down and picked up the ball, and we looked around for the owner. Just a few feet away, sat Ross with a hopeful look in his eye.

  “You have a friend.” I smiled at Anthony.

  Anthony crouched down and instead of trying to get the boy to come over to us, he rolled the ball to him. Anthony knew the fears this boy must have and the trust issues. He knew from first hand experience. Ross smiled when he saw the ball being rolled back to him. He tried to gather it up but it rolled away from him. It took him a few moments but he was able to push himself up with one arm and chase after the ball. Soon the ball rolled back to Anthony. When Ross got it back he made sure Anthony was watching, and he ran to a small basketball hoop that was attached to the side of a filing cabinet with suction cups. He looked back at Anthony, jumped up and pushed the foam ball through the hoop. Ross turned to look at Anthony to make sure he saw the dunk. Anthony clapped and did a fist pump in the air.

  Anthony walked over to Ross and held his hand out for the little boy to give him a high five. I glanced over at the boys mom. She was watching Ross interact with Anthony and was smiling.

  “Carlos, how long have they been here?”

  “Ross and his mother? Let’s see. They’ve been here almost a year. They left once and I think she went back to the boy’s father. They came back a few days later, both of them bruised.”

  Fuck.

  I looked at my watch and we needed to get going. Blake and Matt were going to be at the house at 1:00, and it was 12:30 now. I told Carlos I’d look for his email Monday and Sydney waved to some of the people she knew. Carlos walked outside with us because we still had some additional bedding in the car. Ross saw that we were leaving and looked panicked. He hurried over and hugged his mom’s leg as she was talking to Anthony.

  “Thank you for playing with him and giving him some attention.”

  “It was fun. Take care of him. It’ll mean everything to him. Trust me.”

  The woman looked at Anthony and considered what he said. She picked her son up and encouraged him to speak.

  “Honey, what do you say to this nice man? He gave you juice and played ball with you. Did you even introduce yourself? Hmm?” His mother tried pulling words out of him but seemed to have little effect until Anthony spoke directly to him.

  “I’m Anthony. What’s your name?” Anthony held his hand out towards the boy.

  The boy was shy but didn’t seem afraid. Very quietly he whispered, “Woss.” His mother smiled and kissed her son’s head.

  “Nice to meet you, Ross. You take care of your mom and yourself.” He shook hands with the boy and then turned back to face us. He looked down at Sydney and kissed her forehead.

  I had a strong feeling that Anthony was feeling his heart swell for her even more. We walked out to the car, and Carlos said goodbye to Sydney. Anthony opened the door for her and then joined Carlos and I at the back of the car. After I gave him the last box, he looked up at us and thanked us for bringing Sydney back to say hi. He shook my hand and then Anthony’s again. He held Anthony’s hand longer and said, “Don’t let her come back down here. Keep her in your neighborhood. Help her go forward, not backward.” Anthony and I looked at one another, nodded and got back in the car, and headed home. It was our every intention to help Sydney move forward. Forward with us.

  On the way home I came right out and asked Sydney how she knew of the shelter. She admitted that she had gone there a few times for dinner, and that she volunteered with the food service line. One thing Carlos hadn’t mentioned to me was the last time he saw her. So I asked her when the last time she was there.

  “Oh, lets see. It was right before I got the job with Openin. So maybe last January. Openin changed everything.”

  She was completely right. Openin led her to an assignment with my company, which led me to flirt with her from a distance. Openin eventually led her to me and Anthony. He was quiet for most of the ride home. I think he was thinking about our trip to the shelter. If I didn’t have the email from Carlos Monday, I’d have Leslie call to get the wiring instructions. I wanted to help and certainly had the means to help and make a difference.

  “Sydney, you truly are a beacon of light. You touch the lives of everyone around you, sunshine,” Anthony said to her as he looked out the window.

  “I’m nothing special.”

  Anthony whirled around in his seat and took his sunglasses off. “Yes, you the fuck are special. I don’t ever want to hear you say something like that again.”

  “Neither do I, baby.” I had to throw my two cents in and back him on that. Sydney’s self esteem was far from good, but we were working on it.

  We got home just as Blake was pulling up to the gate. I pulled into the garage, and Blake pulled up alongside Anthony’s BMW. He popped out of his Mercedes and had pizza boxes in his hands. Anthony helped him carry the pizzas while I took Sydney by the hand into the house.

  I told Sydney to go upstairs and get her coat to wear for her shopping trip. It was December and cool out and we didn’t want her sick. Anthony
and I have been giving her chewable gummy vitamins since she hates taking pills. We also make sure she’s eating fruit with her breakfast and lunch and drinking juices.

  Matt and Gina strolled in with Blake and Anthony. I sat at the breakfast bar feeling a little worn out after our morning. From a human perspective, it was very eye opening.

  “I knew you guys had an errand this morning and figured you wouldn’t have had a chance to stop for lunch,” Blake said while following Anthony to the cabinet to pull down plates.

  The pizza would be perfect while we finished organizing and planning the Irons party and auction. Sydney appeared with her coat on and smiled when she saw Gina was here.

  “Hey, Syd, ready?” Gina asked her.

  Matt, Anthony and I all shouted out some sort of “no” answer to them. They needed to eat something.

  “Doms. They’re so into this eating thing,” Gina playfully said which made Sydney laugh. They took the plates from my hand and headed to the island counter where the boxes were lined up. When Sydney flipped a box open and saw it was plain cheese pizza, she smiled. Something so simple made her day. Anthony walked behind her and wrapped his arms around her possessively. He and I were both feeling humbled by our visit to the shelter this morning, and if it was even possible, we both fell deeper in love with our fragile kitten.

  “We have to make sure you eat, sunshine. You gotta be able to keep up with Col and I.” He teased her and nipped at her ear.

  Sydney’s cheeks turned red, and her shoulders came up to try to escape Anthony’s tickle kisses and love bites. She managed to plate two slices and then was guided back to the table with Anthony. He pulled her down to sit on his lap while they ate.

  “So, how is the dress shopping going girls?” Matt asked once we were all seated around the table.

  “It’s going. We’re going to check out a few stores this afternoon,” Gina offered up.

  Anthony couldn’t keep his hands off Sydney as we ate, and had one arm wrapped around her waist. When he finished inhaling his food, he rubbed circles on her shoulder or traced the outline of her jaw going down her neckline. Eventually, he took her earlobe in his mouth again.